Siti Isah Ithnin

Short Story 38: I Am a Co-Curricular Cap . I am not just any cap. I am the official cap of the school’s uniformed co-curricular team—dark blue, stitched with a proud school crest at the front. I belong to Amsyar, a dedicated first-year student who always shows up early and takes pride in his duties. Every Wednesday, Amsyar places me neatly on his head. We march to the field together. Through heat, rain, and mud—I protect him. I’ve been to assemblies, drills, and even a school camp. After each activity, Amsyar wipes me clean with a damp cloth. I’m proud to be part of his journey. But one gloomy Friday, everything changed. During a training session, Amsyar collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital. I was left behind in the dusty corner of the co-curricular storeroom. Weeks passed. No one came for me. I overheard whispers that Amsyar had a heart condition and wouldn’t be back anytime soon. My fabric felt heavy with sadness. Three months later, I heard a familiar voice. It was Amsyar. He lo...

Cerpen 38: Aku Sebuah Topi Kokurikulum . Aku bukan sebarang topi. Aku topi rasmi pasukan unit beruniform sekolah—berwarna biru gelap, berlogo sekolah yang dijahit rapi di hadapan. Aku milik Amsyar, seorang pelajar tingkatan satu yang sangat berdisiplin dan aktif dalam kokurikulum. Setiap hari Rabu, aku diletakkan kemas di atas kepala Amsyar. Kami ke padang bersama-sama. Panas terik, hujan lebat—aku tetap bertugas melindunginya. Aku pernah sertai perhimpunan rasmi, latihan kadet, dan perkhemahan sekolah. Amsyar akan lap badanku dengan kain basah selepas setiap aktiviti. Aku bangga menjadi sebahagian daripada perjuangannya. Namun, satu hari Jumaat yang kelabu, segalanya berubah. Amsyar pengsan semasa latihan kawad. Dia dikejarkan ke hospital. Aku tertinggal di sudut stor kokurikulum, berdebu dan sunyi. Minggu berganti minggu, tiada sesiapa mencariku. Aku dengar bisikan pelajar lain bahawa Amsyar menghidap penyakit jantung dan tak akan kembali ke sekolah dalam masa terdekat. Hati fabrikku...

Short Story 37: I Am a Timetable . I’m not just a piece of paper—I am a timetable. A trusted guide, printed with proud letters: “Class Schedule – 5 Intan.” From Monday Math to Friday PE, I bring order to chaos. I once hung proudly on the classroom wall, always in sight. But everything changed when Damia arrived. She was the new girl—quiet, reserved, often alone. One morning, she took me down and slipped me into her notebook. I didn’t mind. In fact, I felt chosen. Damia read me every day. She scribbled notes on my edges: “Wednesday – wear sports shoes!” or “Tuesday – Science test!” Slowly, I watched her confidence grow. She smiled more. She remembered things. She began to shine—and I knew I had helped. Then came the rain. One stormy afternoon, Damia slipped while rushing to the school gate. She was badly hurt and didn’t come back for days. Her school bag, soaked and forgotten, stayed in class. I lay there, wet and limp, until Mr. Azlan found me. He dried me gently and hung me back on th...

Cerpen 37: Aku Sehelai Jadual Waktu . Aku bukan kertas biasa. Aku sehelai jadual waktu - sahabat paling setia bagi setiap murid. Nama aku tercetak kemas di bahagian atas: “Jadual Waktu 5 Intan”. Tugasku? Menunjukkan jalan, dari Matematik pagi Isnin hingga Pendidikan Jasmani petang Jumaat. Dulu aku tergantung megah di dinding kelas, sentiasa diperhatikan. Tapi sejak Damia datang, semuanya berubah. Damia murid baru, pemalu dan sering bersendirian. Suatu hari, aku dicabut dari dinding dan diselit dalam buku nota miliknya. Aku tidak marah – aku rasa dihargai. Damia sering menatapku, menulis catatan kecil seperti "Hari Rabu – jangan lupa baju sukan!" atau "Selasa ada ujian Sains." Perlahan-lahan aku menjadi tempatnya bergantung. Aku lihat semangatnya meningkat, senyuman mula muncul. Aku tahu, aku menjadi teman yang dia perlukan. Namun, semuanya berubah apabila hujan lebat turun satu petang. Damia, dalam tergesa-gesa pulang dari sekolah, terjatuh di kawasan berbumbung ros...

Short Story 36: The Bittersweet Tale of an Alarm Clock . In the dorm room of Seri Gemilang Secondary School sat a faded blue alarm clock named Loceng. For over eight years, Loceng had faithfully woken up students every morning. Though digital alarms were now more common, Loceng remained loyal to its mission. Loceng once belonged to a student named Fareh, known for his discipline and big dreams. Each dawn, Loceng would ring loudly, jolting not only Fareh but the entire room awake. Its sound was sharp—some said annoying—but it was the sound of determination, the signal to chase tomorrow. Fareh adored Loceng. He once wrote a small note and stuck it behind the clock: _"Thank you for waking me up every day."_ But one quiet night, sadness fell upon the dorm. Fareh received news that his mother, who had long been ill, had passed away. The next day, he left for his village and never returned. Time moved on. New students came and went, yet Loceng remained still on the same wooden she...

Cerpen 36: Kisah Pahit Manis Sebuah Jam Loceng . Di dalam bilik asrama Sekolah Menengah Seri Gemilang, duduklah sebuah jam loceng lama berwarna biru pudar di atas rak kayu. Namanya Loceng. Sudah lapan tahun Loceng berada di sana, menjadi peneman pelajar bangun setiap pagi. Walaupun sekarang jam digital lebih popular, Loceng masih setia menjalankan tugasnya. Loceng pernah dimiliki oleh seorang pelajar bernama Fareh. Fareh ialah pelajar yang rajin dan bercita-cita tinggi. Setiap subuh, Loceng akan berbunyi dengan kuat, mengejutkan bukan hanya Fareh, tetapi seluruh bilik! Walaupun bunyinya nyaring dan kadang-kadang menyakitkan telinga, pelajar-pelajar tahu itu bunyi harapan—bunyi untuk bangkit dan mengejar impian. Fareh sangat menyayangi Loceng. Dia pernah menulis nota kecil dan menampalnya di belakang jam itu: _"Terima kasih kerana bangunkan aku setiap hari."_ Namun, pada suatu malam yang sunyi, Fareh menerima berita sedih—ibunya yang sakit tenat telah meninggal dunia. Esoknya,...